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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 124 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

Make a worksheet

Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

Words on the sheet
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Word bank
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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word from the word bank in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

Word bank: rule · game · bowl · arm · nail · lash · jam · hide

  1. Remember our ________________: no talking to strangers, no matter what.
  2. The bus was late because of the traffic ________________.
  3. My father caught me by the ________________.
  4. Place the flour, butter and salt into a large clean ________________.
  5. He felt the sting of the whip's ________________.
  6. Why are you trying to ________________ your feelings?
  7. He drove in a ________________ with his hammer.
  8. Tom got himself in a ________________.
  9. Will civil ________________ and democracy continue in Algeria?
  10. The ________________ went through the wall.
  11. She broke her ________________ while washing the dishes.
  12. I'd give my right ________________ to be ambidextrous.
  13. Millions watch the Super ________________ every February.
  14. The pointer is employed to find upland ________________.
  15. It's your turn to ________________ the ball down the lane.
  16. That was a fun ________________.
  17. She sat on the ________________ of the sofa.
  18. Would you like some apricot ________________?
  19. She was laid on a cow-________________ and covered by a coarse woollen blanket.
  20. The chairman did not ________________ out the possibility of a disagreement.
  21. We have nothing to ________________ here.
  22. Roulette is a ________________ of chance.
  23. Don't ________________ out at me just because you're upset.
  24. The spa offers ________________ extensions.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. rule — a law
  2. jam — in traffic
  3. arm — part of the body
  4. bowl — a dish
  5. lash — a whip stroke
  6. hide — to keep secret
  7. nail — for a hammer
  8. jam — a tight spot
  9. rule — government
  10. nail — for a hammer
  11. nail — on a finger
  12. arm — part of the body
  13. bowl — a football final
  14. game — wild animals
  15. bowl — to roll
  16. game — a match
  17. arm — a part of something
  18. jam — to spread on bread
  19. hide — animal skin
  20. rule — to rule out
  21. hide — to keep secret
  22. game — a kind of play
  23. lash — to lash out
  24. lash — an eyelash

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com